During the past several months, eleven transport market players have pursued a dialogue about measures to safeguard the position of Stockholm-Arlanda. Their aim is to take vigorous, coordinated action to create the best possible transport accessibility to and from the airport, while fulfilling environmental requirements. The emission ceiling for Stockholm-Arlanda will become mandatory in 2011. Dialogue and analyses indicate that it is absolutely necessary for public transport to be accorded top priority. This will require massive transitions from cars to buses and railways and increases in the proportion of environmentally adapted vehicles.
The aim is to create the best possible transport accessibility to and from the airport, while fulfilling environmental requirements − a major challenge. In a Letter of Intent, which was officially signed this morning (September 23, 2008), these transport market players agreed on the most important measures, grouped under three main headings:
1. Improve the capacity of the railway network.
Among other things by improving the availability of trains, coordinating timetables and improving the accessibility of the Arlanda Link (the railway used by the Arlanda Express).
2. Improve accessibility by train and bus.
Among other things through better public transport connections from municipalities north-east of Stockholm and direct long-distance train connections from hubs in the Stockholm-Lake Mälaren region.
3. Reduce the environmental impact of road transport to Stockholm-Arlanda.
Among other things through incentives to motorists to environmentally adapt their car trip, streamlining of corporate transport services and setting a goal of 100 per cent ecotaxis.
The list of market players signing the Letter of Intent will ensure that various aspects of implementation will be covered. LFV Arlanda − which operates the airport − is responsible for measures directly related to the emission ceiling. The National Rail Administration, the National Road Administration, Stockholm Transport (SL), the passenger rail company SJ, the Uppsala regional transport company UL and the Arlanda Express high-speed rail operator A-banan are in charge of various portions of infrastructure and public transport to and from the airport. Individually and collectively, they will provide opportunities to achieve the transitions that these measures specify.
The Office of Regional Planning and Urban Transportation, the Uppsala Regional Council, the Stockholm County Administrative Board and the Municipality of Sigtuna (home of the airport) have solid analytical and monitoring expertise and are accustomed to coordinating complex regional development processes. By signing the Letter of Intent, the following eleven transport market players are indicating that they are prepared to move from words to actions when it comes to safeguarding Stockholm-Arlanda’s position as a national and regional hub.
Kerstin Lindberg Göransson, Managing Director, LFV Arlanda
Christer Agerback, Regional Manager, Swedish Road Administration
Christer Wennerholm, Chairman of the Board, Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL)
Anders Johansson, Chairman of the Executive Board, Municipality of Sigtuna
Caj Rönnbäck, Managing Director, Upplands Lokaltrafik (UL)
Erik Langby, Chairman, Regional Planning and Urban Transportation Board
Jan Forsberg, Chief Executive Officer, SJ
Arne Sandemo, Chairman of the Board, Uppsala Regional Council
Gunnar Malm, Managing Director, A-banan Projekt AB
Per Unckel, Governor and Head of the Stockholm County Administrative Board
Hans Öhman, Regional Director, Swedish Rail Administration